Nigerian Troops Kill 50 Terrorists, Top ISWAP Commander in Borno

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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intensified operations in the North-east, killing more than 50 terrorists, including a top ISWAP commander, and arresting multiple collaborators across Borno State.

The major success followed a precision airstrike around Kirta and Arina Ciki, which killed several terrorist commanders, including Khalifa Umar, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council, according to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

The military said the sustained air offensive had forced insurgents to abandon island enclaves in the Lake Chad basin and move towards the mainland under pressure.

In separate operations within Maiduguri and surrounding areas, troops apprehended three suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers and informants, as well as a deserter soldier who absconded with his weapon and was later linked to criminal activities.

Items recovered from the suspects include a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of petrol, and other materials used in supporting terrorist operations.

“Troops also conducted fighting patrols in the Kukawa axis, engaging fleeing terrorist scouts and recovering ammunition,” the report added.

The North-east theatre remains the epicentre of Nigeria’s long-running counter-terrorism campaign under Operation Hadin Kai. Over the years, coordinated air and ground offensives have targeted ISWAP and JAS enclaves across the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa axis.

Recent operations have increasingly combined intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) with precision airstrikes, aimed at disrupting terrorist command structures, logistics hubs and mobility routes. Military authorities say the evolving strategy has forced insurgents to abandon fortified island enclaves and disperse into smaller cells, increasing their vulnerability to sustained pursuit operations.

The latest wave of operations reflects continued efforts to degrade leadership elements, cut supply chains, and deny terrorists freedom of movement across the state and adjoining border corridors. The military said operations would be sustained to further degrade terrorist capabilities and restore normalcy in the region.

Sources: Premium Times